HAY FESTIVAL SEGOVIA 2026

The Stringer, the acclaimed documentary directed by Bao Nguyen and produced by award-winning photojournalist Gary Knight, explores the hidden world behind some of the most influential images in modern war journalism. Through a fascinating investigation into the origins of a photograph that helped shape the world’s perception of one of the most defining events of the late 20th century, the Vietnam War, the film raises unsettling questions about authorship, truth, recognition and the ethics of journalism.

The screening will be introduced by Gary Knight and Borja Santos Porras, Vice-Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs, who will provide context for the film and its relevance in an era of controversial narratives, information warfare and rapidly evolving media ecosystems.

A thought-provoking film aimed not only at aspiring journalists, but also at students and professionals in international relations, politics, diplomacy and global governance.

Event in English

A Turbulent Past

At 22 years old, Nelio Biedermann is able to weave together his aristocratic family past and his middle-class present with astonishing sincerity to tell the truth and veil the most disturbing episodes. A time he has revisited, one in which majestic palaces, the beauty of works of art, and the death and destruction that accompanied the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire—leaving deep scars on his family—are intertwined. Biedermann, a Swiss national, has poured all these experiences into a book that has taken Germany by storm under the title Lázár. Critics have highlighted its mystical tone and a classical prose style unexpected in such a young author, to the point that some are already placing him in the tradition of Thomas Mann. In conversation with philologist and cultural expert Antonia Blau. Moderated by the journalist Irene Hernández Velasco.

Following the event, the author will sign copies of his book

Event in German, with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish

Lilly Reich, Mies and joint authorship

The pursuit of beauty in architecture and the creation of masterpieces have historically been associated with the solitary work of the great individual genius. However, new interpretations of authorship have brought to light the creative reality of teamwork and challenged some of the most deeply entrenched narratives of modern architecture.

Laura Martínez de Guereñu, architect, lecturer at IE University and author of Lilly Reich in Barcelona, will discuss, in conversation with Niklas Maak, architect, writer and art and architecture editor at the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the context and process through which Lilly Reich and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created the legendary Barcelona Pavilion in 1929, known as the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion since its reconstruction in 1986. The conversation will address the reasons why Lilly Reich’s creative contribution was sidelined for decades and will question whether it is legitimate to suggest that today the work could be called the Mies van der Rohe / Lilly Reich Pavilion.

The book Lilly Reich in Barcelona: The Materialization of a Neglected Authorship (Finalist for the 2026 FAD Thought and Criticism Award) analyses this historiographical oversight and shows how the rediscovery of Lilly Reich has transformed our understanding of architectural masterpieces, creative collaboration and the very nature of authorship.

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of his books

Event in English

Europe is undergoing a period of profound redefinition. Amid rapid technological change, geopolitical tensions, and the transformation of liberal democracies, fundamental questions are resurfacing about identity, education, culture, and the very meaning of the European project. What values can sustain Europe today? How is the technological revolution shaping the way we think, learn, and live together? What remains of the European humanist ideal in an era marked by uncertainty and fragmentation? Peter Sloterdijk —undoubtedly one of the great living philosophers whose controversial views fuel essential debates— will engage in a dialogue with Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño, president of IE University, on the major intellectual and cultural challenges of our time.

The discussion will begin with The Continent Without Qualities, Sloterdijk’s latest essay, a lucid reflection on Europe’s loss of political and spiritual horizon and on the tensions between technology, culture, and democracy in the 21st century. In the second part, three students from IE University’s European Union Club will join the conversation in an exercise in intergenerational dialogue that will highlight the voices of Young people and their role in building a shared future.

At the end of the event, the authors will be signing copies of their books

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish

The Beauty of Looking Again

What happens when an image we thought we knew reveals a different story? How are the narratives that shape our understanding of international conflicts constructed? And what does it mean to pursue truth in an age of disinformation, competing narratives and information warfare?

Inspired by the questions raised in The Stringer, the acclaimed Netflix documentary produced by Gary Knight, this conversation brings together Knight, one of the world’s leading photojournalists, and veteran international correspondent Anna Bosch to explore the power of images, frontline reporting and the responsibility of those who document history as it unfolds.

Moderated by Borja Santos Porras, Vice Dean of IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs, the discussion broadens the conversation beyond journalism to examine how international narratives are shaped—and challenged. Bringing together the perspectives of a photojournalist, a foreign correspondent and a scholar of global affairs, the panel will explore who gets to tell the stories that define our understanding of the world, why those stories matter, and why the search for truth begins with the willingness to look again.

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Writing in the midst of the world

Acclaimed novelist Jessica Andrews joins Cristina Ward, Head of Arts at British Council Spain, for an in-depth discussion of her work, exploring the powerful themes that run through her writing. Andrews’ debut Saltwater, winner of the Portico Prize, and her second novel Milk Teeth, shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Encore Award, both examine the intersections of identity, social class, gender and the body with striking sensitivity and precision.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Andrews will reflect on how these cross-cutting concerns shape her fiction, as well as tracing her journey to becoming a writer. From early influences to her emergence as one of the most distinctive voices of her generation, the discussion will offer insight into her creative process and the evolving concerns of her work.

After the event, the author will be signing copies of her books

Event in English

CEDRO event: Reading attention, a shared challenge

Writer and journalist Javier Sierra, Vicente Alcañiz, Education Inspector at the Department of Education of the Community of Madrid, and Mar Domínguez, Director of Colpisa, will reflect on the current challenges facing reading: how reading habits have changed, the impact of social media, and the influence of new sources of information. In conversation with Carme Riera, writer, Vice Director of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), and President of CEDRO, they will discuss the benefits of reading and the importance of education as a key tool to promote respect for copyright and combat piracy through awareness and understanding.

Together, they will explore how reading encourages reflection on beauty and pain, emotion, knowledge, and worlds that are sometimes inaccessible without books.

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of their books.

Event in Spanish.

For over three decades, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren have challenged the boundaries between fashion and art, establishing Viktor & Rolf as one of the most innovative and influential names in contemporary fashion. Internationally renowned for their conceptual haute couture, their creations combine glamour, irony and experimentation to challenge the conventions of beauty, identity and luxury.

In this conversation, the brand’s founders will trace the evolution of Viktor & Rolf, from their beginnings after graduating from the Arnhem Academy of Art and Design to their establishment as global icons of contemporary creativity. Together with Benedetta Poletti, Editorial Director of Hearst Spain and Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Spain, and Inés Quezada, designer and Academic Director of the Bachelor in Fashion at IE University, they will reflect on the milestones that have marked their career, the relationship between fashion, art and the media, and the role of creativity in a constantly changing cultural context.

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop

What happens when we step away from the life we are expected to live and begin searching for the life we truly want? This is the question at the heart of Hwang Bo-Reum’s internationally acclaimed novel Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, a publishing phenomenon that has captivated readers around the world with its warmth, wisdom and quiet humanity.

In conversation with Catalina Tejero, Dean of IE School of Arts & Humanities, Hwang reflects on the themes that have made her work resonate across cultures: burnout, loneliness, friendship, community, and the healing power of books. Set in a small bookshop in a Seoul neighbourhood, her novel follows people who have lost their way and discover new possibilities through literature, conversation and human connection.

The event will be presented by Javier Gila, president of the AIDA Foundation, an organisation which, amongst other projects, collects and sells second-hand books to raise funds for charitable initiatives.

At the end of the event, the author will be signing copies of her book

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish

Beyond the Exhibit: Museums as Living Cultural Containers

Museums are no longer simply places to preserve and display collections. They have become catalysts for urban transformation, cultural dialogue and innovation. How can architecture, curatorship and cultural leadership shape the cities—and societies—of the future?

Ben van Berkel, founder and principal architect of UNStudio, Sheikha Reem Al-Thani, Acting Deputy CEO of Exhibitions and Marketing and Director of Central Exhibitions at Qatar Museums, Manuela Lucà-Dazio, Executive Director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, and David Goodman, Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design, come together to explore the evolving role of museums as living cultural institutions.

From iconic museum buildings to visionary cultural programmes, the conversation will examine how museums can foster creativity, strengthen communities and redefine the relationship between culture, education and the public realm. What makes a museum not only a destination, but a catalyst for social and urban change?

How Do You Create a Heroine Today?

Alba Zamora, C. A. Todorova, Eva Mayro, and Alicia Guelvenzu, leading authors in romantic fantasy and widely read by thousands of young readers, will discuss the rise of gothic romance and imaginary worlds as new spaces for emotional exploration, where superficiality is left behind in search of the beauty found in delicacy and depth.

A conversation about heroines, emotional wounds, desire, reading communities, and the contemporary need to create new myths of our own.

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of their books.

Event in Spanish.

FT Weekend Debate: Europe at Different Speeds: Competing in the Age of Innovation

Europe is at a crossroads. As geopolitical tensions rise and technological change accelerates, can Europe move fast enough to remain competitive while staying true to its values?

Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy, Dean at IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs and author of the landmark report on the future of the Single Market, joins Amparo Moraleda, member of the Board of Directors of Airbus and its next Chairwoman starting October 1, one of Europe's leading business and industrial voices, in conversation with Frederick Studemann, Literary Editor of the Financial Times. Together they will explore how Europe can strengthen its competitiveness in an era defined by artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, defence, research and innovation.

From Ukraine's path towards European integration to new forms of cooperation with strategic partners, the discussion will examine whether a more flexible, "multi-speed" Europe can become a source of resilience rather than fragmentation. How can Europe accelerate decision-making, foster innovation ecosystems and build the capabilities needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive world?

Event in English with interpretation to Spanish

Conversation on Gaza: 28 Magazine

Mahmoud al-Shaer and Muhammad al-Zaqzouq were the editors of 28 Magazine, a platform for Palestinian writers and artists. The war in Gaza forced them to suspend their work for two and a half years, until they recently released a special edition in collaboration with the digital platform Palestine is Everywhere. The issue reflects on the devastating reality of Gaza and on what it means to live through a war held in suspension.

Muhammad al-Zaqzouq — joining digitally from Gaza — one of the contributors to the publication, will speak with Mahmoud al-Shaer, poet and editor of 28 Magazine, about the power of testimony as a form of historical record, a tool for preserving memory, and a literary voice in its own right.

*All proceeds from the project will be donated to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN).

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of their books.

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

The Future of Work Through TV Series

Can fiction help us understand the future before it arrives? From The Office and Mad Men to Succession, Borgen and Industry, television series have become a powerful lens through which to explore how we work, lead, collaborate and live together.

Cristina Mateo, Vice Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design and author of From The Office to Industry: How TV Series Anticipate the Future of Work, joins journalist and writer Rubén Amón to discuss how audiovisual storytelling reveals the profound transformations reshaping workplaces and society. Together they will explore the impact of artificial intelligence, changing organisational cultures, multigenerational workplaces, sustainability, and the evolving relationship between work, identity and community.

How are today's stories shaping the way we imagine—and build—the future of work?

At the end of the event, the authors will be signing copies of their books

Event in Spanish

Universo Cristóbal Balenciaga

La obra de Cristóbal Balenciaga era una explosión de elegancia, excelencia, belleza, innovación y un canto a la elaboración artesana y exclusiva. Representa como pocos la modernidad basada en la tradición, a la que se llega a través del trabajo meticuloso. Toda una creación artística. Javier Echeverría Sola y Nerea Pallares dialogarán sobre esta forma de elaboración que es capaz de detener el tiempo, como se puedo ver en la exposición Cristóbal Balenciaga | Shoes from Spain Tribute, de la que Echeverría fue su comisario. Pallares es una escritora cuyas novelas y relatos descansan en la exploración poética de la delicadeza, el gesto manual y las formas de creación ligadas a lo íntimo y lo artesanal. Su escritura reivindica una idea de la belleza vinculada a la atención, la lentitud y el trabajo cuidadoso de las manos. El evento estará moderado por Enrique de Santiago, Senior Project Manager en Loewe.

Collecting: A Return to Essential Values

Today’s society is increasingly seeking the human dimension in everyday life: the beauty of imperfection, sensitivity, and authentic emotions. Saturated by consumerism, industrial goods, and virtual, dematerialised relationships, we are searching to recover a natural and deeply human connection. For many, a beautiful life also means a different relationship with nature — one in which the environment does not suffer the consequences of mass production. Reusing, restoring, and giving new life to places and objects have become essential values.

Three leading art experts know this well: Mercedes de Miguel, director of the prestigious Segre auction house; Corisande Albert, ceramic artist; and Belén Llamas Ferrier, president of the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association. Together, they will discuss why, in turbulent times, tradition and classicism continue to offer enduring and reliable values.

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Tension in the Face of Modernity

What happens when a society obsessed with progress loses touch with its roots? Carlos Franganillo, one of the most prestigious journalists on the Spanish television news scene, and Diego del Alcázar, President of IE, will discuss this topic in relation to his latest novel, La idea de volver. Set against the backdrop of the tranquil Cantabrian mountains and the hustle and bustle of life in New York, the novel follows the story of an academic returning to the place of his childhood and an elderly man trying to come to terms with the passage of time. The work reflects on roots, identity and the limits of knowledge in the age of artificial intelligence.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his book

Event in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation into English

The Unexpected Power of Poetry

What can poetry do for us? Can it change our relationship with words, pain, beauty, nature, love, and life itself?

Thomas Schlesser, art historian and author of the bestselling phenomenon Mona’s Eyes and the philosophical novel The Gardener’s Cat, will discuss poetry as one of the oldest and most powerful ways of giving meaning to the world through language. He will be joined by Elena Garrigues, art and culture expert and Ethics professor at IE University. The event will be presented by Zélie Perpignaa, specialist in cultural mediation and Attaché for Books, Public Debate and Media Libraries at the Institut Français of Spain.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

Event in French with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Deception

Palestinian writer Adania Shibli reflects on war, violence, and memory against the backdrop of a disoriented Palestine. Following Minor Detail — a novel recounting the rape of a young woman during the 1949 Palestinian-Israeli conflict, shortlisted for the 2021 International Booker Prize and finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Translated Literature — comes Deception, a powerful and heartbreaking story in which two young people attempt to live a normal life in circumstances where nothing is normal for Palestinians who have been stripped of their land, history, and identity.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of her books.

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Two Perspectives, Two Languages

Hernán Cortés and Hubertus von Hohenlohe are two creators connected through a shared discipline: portraiture. Cortés, one of the leading figures in Spanish painting, and photographer and multidisciplinary artist von Hohenlohe will discuss their respective approaches to portraying people and identity.

Through painting, Cortés develops sober, restrained portraits with a strong psychological dimension, deeply connected to artistic tradition and art history. Von Hohenlohe, through photography, creates more vibrant images shaped by the multiple visual references that emerge spontaneously in contemporary urban life.

Two distinct artistic languages, two ways of searching for identity and beauty through careful observation, which, rather than opposing each other, reveal complementary perspectives on contemporary representation.

Event in Spanish.

TikTok: The End of Common Sense?

In democratic societies, common sense has traditionally been grounded in verifiable knowledge — individuals and institutions sharing information that could be examined and validated by others. Stable democracies depended on the recognition of this shared framework.

German producer Michael Trabitzsch will speak with writer Lorenzo de’ Medici about how this structure is being radically challenged by social media platforms such as TikTok. In this environment, anyone can make claims without evidence, creating a constant stream of idle noise. The conversation will reflect on how this dynamic threatens social cohesion and weakens democratic culture, replacing thoughtful reflection with the fleeting noise of immediacy.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Beauty in Flight

British naturalist David Lindo — widely known as The Urban Birder — is one of the world’s leading ornithology experts, as well as a writer, television presenter, guide, and environmental communicator. His great passion is connecting people living in cities with the birds and natural environments around them, offering a fascinating journey shaped by the beauty of nature and the rediscovery of our connection with it.

This transformative experience will be explored in a conversation with the British Ambassador to Spain, Sir Alex Ellis, a passionate music lover who believes that experiencing nature is essential to human development. The event will be moderated by journalist Irene Hernández Velasco.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Family as a Crossroads

If human relationships are complex in themselves, family relationships can become intricate labyrinths shaped by emotions, joy, pain, beauty, and confusion.

Manuel Jabois, one of the leading voices in Spanish literature and journalism, explores the family — society’s first institution — in his novel The Eve. Through the story, he reflects on how even the deepest forms of love can sometimes cross moral boundaries, hidden behind the seemingly innocent idea that “if things happened sometimes, they were fixed, like in every family.” Jabois opens space for doubt and reflection through the raw reality of human relationships.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

Event in Spanish

Geography of Desire: 42 Erotic Stories was born as an act of literary rebellion. During the pandemic, authors María José Solano and Jesús García Calero decided to write 42 erotic stories at a time when physical contact had become forbidden.

The book traces desire across time and space, from Antiquity to the 21st century, mapping not only bodies but also gazes, cities, and personal mythologies. Before being published as a book, some of the stories circulated anonymously on Zenda under pseudonyms.

The result is a dialogue between two distinct voices: Solano’s intimate and emotionally penetrating perspective, which embodies the lovers of literary myths, and Calero’s richly documented narrative worlds and historical settings, where eroticism pushes the boundaries of what we know about the lives of its protagonists.

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of their books.

Event in Spanish.

Inner Beauty

Priest, philosopher, and theologian Pablo d’Ors believes that spirituality and meditation are spaces that nourish us, allowing us to discover meaning and free our perspective from the pressures of daily life, revealing a new sense of beauty in the world around us. Rather than a purely reflective process, it is an invitation to journey inward.

Founder of the meditation network Friends of the Desert, d’Ors combines his pastoral work with a prolific literary career focused on spirituality, including works such as Biography of Silence. He will be in conversation with writer, literary and film critic, and cultural manager Fernando Rodríguez Lafuente.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

Event in Spanish.

Networks that foster literary communities

Inma Ballesteros (Spain) and Sonia Faleiro (India) may often work behind the scenes, but they play an essential role in promoting writers within today’s global literary ecosystem. They are key figures in bringing diverse literary voices to festivals and book fairs around the world.

Ballesteros promotes Spanish culture through her role as Programming Director at Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), while Faleiro founded the mentorship programme South Asia Speaks, which seeks to amplify emerging literary voices across the region.

Together with writer and Deputy Director of La Vanguardia, Miquel Molina, they will discuss the importance of building networks that support literary communities and emerging talent, as well as their work leading AC/E and South Asia Speaks.

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of their books.

Event in Spanish.

The Daily Wonder of Still Being Here

An accident can divide a life in two. It can also become a new way of looking at the world.

Marta Jiménez Serrano and Nerea Pérez de las Heras draw from life-threatening experiences to create two books that move beyond autobiography and explore universal themes. In Oxygen, Jiménez Serrano reflects on the carbon monoxide poisoning that nearly killed her, connecting the experience with broader reflections on love, family, housing, and precarity. In Ghost, Pérez de las Heras transforms the loss of part of her leg after a maritime accident into a sharp and luminous meditation on the body, identity, public healthcare, vulnerability, and friendship.

With sensitivity, humour, and a remarkable ability to turn personal experience into literature, both authors confront death directly in order to celebrate the daily wonder of still being here.

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of their books.

Event in Spanish.

Reinterpret the past

Some lives contain many lives within them, and some family stories reveal the wider history of the places and times that shaped them — sometimes in deeply dramatic ways.

Margaryta Yakovenko emigrated to Spain with her parents at the age of seven, leaving behind loved ones in Ukraine. Since then, everything has changed unexpectedly, and part of her family now lives in territory occupied by Russia.

Together with Jesús García Calero, journalist and one of Spain’s leading cultural communicators, she will revisit the turbulent history of the region over the past century, drawing on her latest work, Occupation, a powerful reckoning with her own past.

At the end of the event, the authors will sign copies of their books.

Event in Spanish

Riding Through Life

The story of contemporary Spanish music cannot be told without mentioning Ramoncín. Since bursting onto the scene in the 1970s at just 22 years old, determined to take on the world, the Madrid-born artist has created some of the most iconic anthems in the history of Spanish rock, including Hormigón Mujeres y alcohol, Como un susurro, La chica de la puerta 16, Miedo a soñar, Marica de terciopelo, Estamos desesperados, and Ángel de cuero.

With a lifetime of experience in music, culture, and life itself, Ramoncín joins Santiago Herrero, Director of Cultural and Scientific Relations at AECID, to reflect on what it means to remain rebellious and transgressive at the age of 70.

Event in Spanish.

Melancholy of the Outskirts

Cities and journeys marked by the traces of the past and the persistence of memory are central themes in Mathias Enard’s work, including Melancholy of the Borders: North, where memoir, travel writing, and literary essay come together.

Throughout his writing, Enard explores not only physical landscapes but also moral and emotional territories, shaping geographical, human, and literary borders. His latest work, the first part of a quartet dedicated to the cardinal points, serves as the starting point for a conversation with journalist Helena de Bertodano, known for her interviews and profiles of prominent cultural figures.

The event will be presented by Zélie Perpignaa, specialist in cultural mediation and Attaché for Books, Public Debate and Media Libraries at the Institut Français of Spain.

At the end of the event, the author will sign copies of his books.

Event in Spanish.

What happens when we step away from the life we are expected to live and begin searching for the life we truly want? This is the question at the heart of Hwang Bo-Reum’s internationally acclaimed novel Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, a publishing phenomenon that has captivated readers around the world with its warmth, wisdom and quiet humanity.

In conversation with Catalina Tejero, Dean of IE School of Arts & Humanities, Hwang reflects on the themes that have made her work resonate across cultures: burnout, loneliness, friendship, community, and the healing power of books. Set in a small bookshop in a Seoul neighbourhood, her novel follows people who have lost their way and discover new possibilities through literature, conversation and human connection.

The event will be presented by Javier Gila, president of the AIDA Foundation, an organisation which, amongst other projects, collects and sells second-hand books to raise funds for charitable initiatives.

At the end of the event, the author will be signing copies of her book

Event in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish